Toy building blocks



v A. 0. OTTO.

TOY BUILDING BLOCKS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6,

Patented July 1, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. 0. OTTO.

TOY BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATXON FILED MAR. a, 1912.

Patented July 1, 1919.

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I NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

. o ADOLPH OSCAROTTO. 01 OAK PARK. ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICANTOY SHOP, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TOY BUILDINGFBLOCKS.

l,2tt)8.254.

Specification of Letters Patent Patent-ed July 1 iota.

' h a whom it mu 1 concern llle it known that l. .-\nol.ru (lsmu (lane,a citizen of the United States of America. and resident of Oak Park.Cook county. llllinois. have invented a certain new and usefulimprovement in Toy Buildingllilocks. of which the following is aspecification.

Mv invention relates to to -'-hu'ildingbloclts of that kind which aresuitable for building toy-structures, such as houses,

bridges, vehicles and other structures.

Generally stated. the object of my invention is to provide a novel andimproved form of toy-building-blocks ot' the t'oregoing generalcharacter.

A special object is to'provide blocks which are made of wood and whichcan be rigidly secured together to form various kinds of structures, andwhich can be taken apart afterward, whereby the blocks and retainingdevices therefor can be used over again in diflerent ways.

It is also an object to provide certain detailsand features ofconstruction and combinations tending to increase the desirability andattractiveness of toy-building-blocks of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective of a toy-houseconstructed from toy-b11ilding-blocks embodying the principles of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of a portion of saidbuilding-blocks, illustrating the manner in which said blocks are heldtogether by wires or rods.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one of said blocks.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the block shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 1s a perspective of a toy arch-like structure constructed fromsaid blocks.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the blocks.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of one of the blocks. Fig. 8 is a perspective ofa wheel or round object constructed from some of said blocks.

As thus illustrated, my invention comprises (see Figs. 1 and 2,) anumber of rectangular blocks A, made of wood or other suitable material.and provided with transverse openings (1 to receive the vertical rods orwires l3. which latter lit snugly in said openings. The. house shown inFig. 1 is constrlu-ted by placing these blocks one on top of the other,by sliding them downward upon the rods or wires. and it will be readilyunderstood how the blocks are arranged to form the four ,walls of thehouse, leaving openings for the windows C and D and the doorway E. eachopening having a longer block 0 or (Z or a. as the case. may be,stretching across the top thereof to form a support for the blocks orother structure above. The wires B can show at the windows (as in thewindow C) or they can be shortened to leave the window clear (see windowD), as may be desired, and the rods or wires can be omitted from thedoorway in the same manner. The blocks forming the steps F are similarto those previously described, except that some of them are much longerto form the treads of the steps, and others are shorter, such as theblocks f, to form the posts at each side of the steps. It will beunderstood, of course, that some of the upper blocks, such as those atG, which form the gables of the house, must be beveled at their ends toform straight or continuous inclines to receive the roofmember's H, thelatter consisting, for example, of strips of ordinary roofing, or ofmetal, as may be desired. The blocks G, for example are bored obliquelyto the bevel. If necessary or desirable, the ends of the rods or wirescan be filed-off smooth, wherever they project from the finishedstructure, or during the operation of constructing the house, as, forexample, along the upper edges of the four walls, whereby the roof willproperly engage and rest upon these walls. As the blocks slide snugly ortightly upon the rods or wires, it follows that the resulting structurewill be of comparatively rigid and solid character, but not to theextent to prevent the taking apart of the structure afterward, bysliding the blocks upward and off from the tops of the rods or Wires, ina manner that will be readily understood. As the blocks are rectangularin form and brought snugly and tightly together, the rigidity v andstrength of the structure will be such -ends for these same rods.

that the effect is practicall the same as would result from the use 0solid. walls.

In .Fig. 5, the structure is arch-like 1n character and illustrates theway in which 'the blocks and wires or rods can be used in buildingvarious structures. In this case, in addition to the standard lengthrectangular blocks A, previously described, long blocks I are employed,as well as similar long blocks J, to form the top of the structure, butthe principle is substantially the same. The blocks I are beveled attheir inner ends to rest upon the inclined blocks'J, and the latter arebeveled at both ends so that they may engage at an angle to each otherand rest at their lower ends upon horizontal surfaces provided by someof the blocks A, in a manner thatwill be readily understood. The blocksI are horizontal, their beveled inner ends resting upon the blocks J,and'the outer ends of these blocks I rest upon the small or squareblocks 2', which latter are similar to the small or square blocks 7previously described. Blocks I are bored vertically at 1 obliquely totheir bevels to receive the rods, and the blocks J are bored at 2parallel with the adjacent bevels, but at right angles to the bevels atthe other The blocks J are bored horizontally at 3 for a connecting rod.

In Fig. 8, the wheel or disk K is composed of some of the blocks shownand described,

such as the rectangular blocks A and the s uare blocks 2', which formthe central area 0% the structure, but the blocks which form theperiphery or edge of; the structure must be curved or rounded, it willbe understood, so that when the blocks are all secured together thesecurved or rounded edges will combine to form the circular rim or treadof the wheel. The wires B extend through the 'blocks, in the mannerpreviously described, and tightly hold the blocks together,

and theends of these wires or rods can be filed off smooth on theperiphery of the wheel or disk-like structure thus provided. It iscontemplated that the building blocks shown and described will be ofsuch sizes and shapes that, in addition to the house I and thebridge-like structure shown, the user of the blocks can build astructurehaving the general shape of an automobile or other vehicle, andinsuch case the wheels will be formed in the manner shown in Fig. 8,each wheel having its center block provided with a horizontal opening isto receive the horizontal wires or rods which will form the xles of thevehicle.

It is also contemplated that certain structures will be built or formedfrom the blocks which will require not only parallel vertical openingsin the blocks, such as those shown in Fig. 1, but which will alsorequire horizontal openings in some of the blocks, such extendthere-through at right angles to each other. Blocks of this kind will befound useful in various ways.

The structures shown, it will be understood, are merelyillustrative ofsome of the things contemplated by myinvention, and I do not limitmyself to blocks and wires or rods of a size and shape for anyparticular structure, as-it is obvious that the blocks actually shownand described can be used in the construction of various things, andthat with the addition of other blocks of the same kind, or of differentshapes and sizes, but all made to receive the wires or rods in themanner shown and described, and adapted to be laid in horizontal courseslike bricks, various structures can,be built embodying the principles ofmy invention.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In toy building blocks, a pluralityof blocks having holes therein, adapted to be laid in courses likebricks, and tight fitting rods to extend through said holes from oneblock to another and through successive courses. from the bottom to theto thereof to hold the blocks rigidly and rmly together, havinpIrovisions whereby on or more ofthe' Ioc s will provide an inclined oran oblique support when necessary, to form the desired structure, saidrods having their ends flush with the structure, some of said blocksbeing rectangular in form, and other blocks being each curved at oneside thereof.

2. In toy building blocks, a plurality of blocks of uniform thicknessbut of different lengths, having holes of uniform size and distanceapart, and rods to extend through said holes to bind the blocks solidlytogether, so that in building the wall of ahouse or other structure theblocks are laid like bricks and will break joint in the horizontalcourses to make the structure rigid and firm, and whereby some of theblocks may be used to turn a corner in making the house or otherstructure, havin provislons whereby one or more of the bloc s willprovide'an inclined or an oblique support when necessary, the rodsextending vertically through the successive courses of blocks in saidwall or structure and tightly fitting said holes, to prevent relativemovement between the blocks, some of said blocks being beveled at theirends and bored at right angles to the bevel to form the holes.

' 3. In toy building blocks, a plurality of blocks of uniform thicknessbut of different lengths, having holes of uniform size and distanceapart, and rods to extend through said holes to bind the blocks solidlytogether, so that in building the wall of a house or other structure theblocks are laid like bricks and will break joint in the horizontalcourses lllll so that in buildin till escape;

to make the structure rigid and firm, and

or an oblique support when necessary, the 1 rods extending verticallythrough the successive courses of. blocks in said wall orstructure andtightly fitting said holes to prevent relative movement between thedocks, some of said blocks being bored longitudinally to form the holes.I 4. ln toy building blocks, a plurality of blocks of uniform thicknessbut of different lengths, having holes of uniform size and distanceapart, and rods to extend through said holes to bind the blocks solidlytogether, the wall of a house or other structure, t 10 blocks are laidlike bricksand will break joint in the horizontal courses to make thestructure rigid and firm, and whereby some of the blocks ma be used toturn a corner in making the ouse or other structure, having provisionswhereby one or more of the blocks will provide an inclined or an obliquesupport when necessary, the rods extendin vertically thr'ough thesuccessive courses 0 blocks in said wall or structure and tightlyfitting said holes to prevent relative movement between the blocks, someof said blocks being beveled and bored obliquely to the bevel to formthe holes.

5. In toy building blocks, a plurality of blocks of uniform thicknessbut of different lengths, having holes of uniform size and distanceapart, and rods to extend through said holes to bind the blocks solidlytogether, so that in buildin the wall of a house or other structure t eblocks are laid like bricks and will break joint in the .horizontal'courses to make the structure rigid and firm, and whereby some of theblocks may be used to turn a corner in making the house or otherstructure, having provisions whereby one or more of the blocks willprovide an inclined or an oblique support when necessary, the rodsextending vertically through the successive courses of blocks in saidwall or structure and tightly fitting said holes to prevent relativemovement between the blocks, some of said blocks being rounded to formthe periphery of a wheel, and other blocks being rectangular andadaptedfor use in either the wheel or the house.

6. In toy building blocks, a plurality of blocks of uniform thicknessbut of different lengths, having holes of uniform size and distanceapart, and rods to extend through said holes to bind the blocks solidlytogether, so that in building the wall of a house or other structure theblocks are laid like bricks and will break joint in the horizontalcourses to make the structure rigid and firm and whereby some of theblocks may be used i i v to turn a corner in making the house or otherstructure, having n'ovisions whereby one or more of the bloc s willprovide an inclined or an oblique support when necessary, the rodsextendin r vertically through the successive courses oi blocks in'said'wall or structure and tightly fitting said holes to prevent relativemovement between the blocks, some of said blocks being beveled at theirends and bored parallel with the bevel to form the holes.

71' In toy building blocks, a plurality of blocks having holes therein,adapted to be laid in courses like bricks, and tight fitting rods toextend through said holes from one block to another and throughsuccessive courses from the bottom to the to thereof to hold the blocksrigidly and rmly together to form the desired structure, said rodshaving their ends flush with the structure, some of said blocks beingrectangular in form, and other blocks being each curved at one sidethereof.

8. In toy building blocks, 'a plurality of blocks of uniform thicknessbut of different lengths, having holes of uniform size and distanceapart, and rods to extend through said holes to bind the blocks solidlytogether, so that in building the wall of a house or other structure theblocks are laid like bricks and will break joint in the horizontalcourses to make the structure rigid and firm and whereby some of theblocks may be use to turn a corner in making the house or otherstructure, the rods extending vertically through the successive coursesof blocks in said. wall or structure and tightly fitting said holes toprevent relative movement between the blocks, some of said blocksbeingbeveled at their ends and bored at right angles to the bevel to form theholes.

9. In toy building blocks, a plurality of blocks of uniform thicknessbut of different lengths, having holes of uniform size and distanceapart, and rods to extend through said holes to bind the blocks solidlytogether, so that in building the wall of a house or other structure theblocks are laid like bricks and will break joint in the horizontalcourses to make the structure rigid and firm, and whereby some of theblocks may be used to turn a corner in making the house or otherstructure, the rods extending vertically through the successive coursesof blocks in said wall or structure and tightly fitting said holes toprevent relative movement between the blocks, some of said blocks beingbeveled and bored obliquely to the bevel to form the holes.

10. In toy building blocks for forming a house or a wheel or otherstructure, a plurality of blocks of uniform thickness but of differentlengths, having holes of uniform size and distance apart, and rods toextend through said holes to bind the blocks solidly ios together, sothat in building the wall of a house or other structure the blocks arelaid like bricks and will break joint in the horizontal courses to makethe structure rigid and firm, and whereby some of the blocks may be usedto turn a corner in making the house or other structure, the rodsextending vertically through the successive courses of blocks in saidwall or structure and "tightly fitting said holes to brevent relativemove- 10 Signed by me at Oak'Park, Illinois, this 15 14th day ofFebruary, 1917.

ADOLPH OSCAR OTTO.

